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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of five dimensions of experiential advertising (cognitive, emotional, sensory, relational and behavioural) on advertising credibility in the banking sector.

A total of 277 undergraduate students were asked to complete a questionnaire after viewing two versions of a bank advertisement. Results were analysed using structural modelling equations (EQS 6.2).

Findings show that all dimensions of experiential advertising positively impact advertisement credibility. Cognitive/emotional/sensory advertisements exert the greatest impact, followed by relational and then behavioural advertisements which have only a marginal impact. Post hoc results show that the impact of experiential advertising on advertising credibility varies according to both actor and respondent gender.

This study enhances the literature on experiential marketing and credibility, especially banking sector advertising, and provides more in-depth insight into the role of respondent and actor gender in influencing responses. Financial services practitioners would be well advised to devote particular attention to the formulation of experiential strategies when developing advertising campaigns.

This article proposes two studies to demonstrate the impact of three dimensions of perceived experiential advertising – cognitive/affective/sensory advertising, relate advertising and behavioural advertising – on consumer behaviour (brand credibility, affective commitment and emotions) in the banking sector.

For study 1, a total of 506 online panellists of a recognized Canadian research firm were asked to evaluate a local bank advertisement using an online self-reported questionnaire. For study 2, a total of 65 Canadian respondents recruited through Facebook and Google adverts were asked to watch two video advertisements (one more experiential and the other less experiential). After viewing the advertisements on a computer equipped with FaceReader software by Noldus, participants completed a short online questionnaire.

Using structural equations modelling, the first study shows that brand credibility explains the positive impact of perceived cognitive/affective/sensory advertising (complementary mediation) and perceived behavioural advertising (indirect mediation only) on affective commitment. The second study illustrates that the cognitive/affective/sensory dimension is more important for experiential advertising than experiential advertising. Employing FaceReader facial expression recognition software results indicate that the bank advertisement with a higher score of perceived cognitive/affective/sensory advertising produces a higher level of happiness among respondents.

Both studies provide new insights into perceived experiential advertising and the impact of the latter on consumers. Benefits to scholars and practitioners include an enhanced understanding of advertising effectiveness in the banking sector.